Dark Horse's favorite little odd-ball, Emily the Strange, is back this month with more of her kitty-abetted acts of anarchy in her third book, and also in her very own playing card set! We thought we'd sit down with the girl in black to chat about what she's up to, and what we can expect from this next book.

PE: So Emily. Three books, toys, stickers, candy, mugs, T-shirts--you're everywhere! How do you keep your ego from getting too big?

Emily: I let Rob and Buzz have all the ego, I got enough to worry about!

PE: What can people expect from your upcoming book?

Emily: I am guessing you are talking about the trade paperback collecting issues (count 'em!) one through three. If so, then you get some strange, exciting extras (including a "how to" draw me! and a week at the resort with Elvira), not in the first three volumes . . .

If you are talking about the third comic, then expect the unexpected: lots of dark stuff and a night with fellow stranger Marilyn Manson.

PE: I know you're a comics character, but you've got to be getting older--is all this angst just a teenage thing? You think you're growing out of it?

Emily: Not me. I'm gonna stay young until I die! (Then I'll just age like every other rotting corpse alive today!)

PE: You're a musician, an artist--any other new interests?

Emily: I like a lot of things and I'm not afraid to show it . . .
Then again, if I say too much--I might blow it . . .
but that's what you want me to do, and you know it . . .
so I guess . . . for now, call me a poet!

PE: Mischief is one reason why everyone loves you so much. Gotten up to any new schemes lately?

Emily: Almost got caught putting the pits back in the olives they use for those dry martinis they serve to all the corporate rock stars. I probably bought a dentist a new house with all the Gene Simmons look-alikes we had that night!

PE: You've got a lot of gripes, but what would you say is your biggest one?

Emily: Stupid questions.

PE: What would you like to say to your millions of young fans? Come on, Emily . . . be nice!

Emily: I've said it before, but . . . BE ALL YOU CAN'T BE.

PE: Thanks for chatting with the Pony Express, Emily!

Emily: Who? I like ponies. Black ones with bat wings . . .